Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Los Angeles leads 14 of 22 categories
Hayward
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
160,602
Los Angeles
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Households earn $29,127 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.7%)
Homes cost $47k less ($775,700 vs $822,600)
Cons
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,260/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (3656.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Rent averages $469/mo less ($1,791 vs $2,260)
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $29,127/yr
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$29,127
$105,371 vs $76,244/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
35% lower
477.1 vs 728.5 per 100k
Hayward
Median Home Value
$47k less
$775,700 vs $822,600
Hayward
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Los Angeles
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Los Angeles
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 78.0°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $76,244 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 78.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Los Angeles is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Los Angeles leads 14 of 22 categories. Hayward wins 8 and Los Angeles wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Hayward to Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $822,600 median home), income ($105,371 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Los Angeles, CA are about 324 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.